That whether the choice to run be of bravery or foolishness, many people participate to remind us of that we are not meant to live forever. Therefore, LIVE!

I think we all have moments when we feel like we were where we were supposed to be at that time. In a lifetime, we have very few of these moments. So if one ever comes our way, we shouldn’t hesitate, just move.

This past July 7 and 8 was the running of the bulls, also known as Encierro, in Pamplona, Spain. For those unfamiliar with the occasion, Encierro is a traditional event where participants from all over the world are welcomed to run with, away or behind the Bulls. Some spectators view the event as a ridiculous excuse to have fun and be stupid, while others traditionally view it as a reminder of their fate. That whether the choice to run be of bravery or foolishness, many people participate to remind us of that we are not meant to live forever. Therefore, LIVE!

A few of us booked a 24hour Pamplona party with a travel company. It included transportation to Pamplona, a box of wine and a chance to run with the bulls. We departed from Barcelona at 4 pm on Friday, July 6 and arrived in Pamplona at around 11 pm. From then on, we were on our own. The streets were packed with people wearing all white with red scarves. As non-locals and non-participants, we stood out in our blues, khakis and orange shirts. But that never kept us from enjoying the experience and rummaging through bars in the area.

At around 7:30 am Saturday morning, we went to find a spot to watch the event. If you thought the running of the bulls was an attraction, they should really make it a spectator sport to watch as people fight for a spot to watch the show. People shoved, pushed, screamed, and cursed at each other to be at the front. Even then, a front row spot behind the gate was not good enough to give a person a view of the run. My friends stayed to try and watch, but I made the conscious decision to walk away from the anxious crowd and instead, grab a hot dog with a friend. The hot dog was delicious by the way.

Once the event was over, it was discussed that in order to have a good view of the run, you either needed a view on one of the street terraces or be one of the paramedics on the scene. In addition to the failed attempt to watch the run, our bus was 3 hours late picking us up and bringing us back to Barcelona. For the first in our lives, my friends and I went to run with the bulls and sleep on a dirty, bus station floor.

Nevertheless, it was a great experience and I would not take any of it back. Because for someone as sheltered as I am, for a few moments, I lived.